Guide
Maths school entry requirements
Entry requirements are set independently by each school and change from year to year, so this page deliberately does not quote a single GCSE grade profile as "the" requirement — a wrong number here could cost someone a real application. What follows is what's actually constant across the network, plus where to find the specifics.
What's the same everywhere
- Every school requires a strong GCSE Mathematics grade — specific thresholds vary by school and by year, and are usually set high given how selective these schools are.
- Every school expects you to take A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics — this shapes what they look for at GCSE, since Further Maths A-level assumes real fluency going in.
- Most schools also expect strong grades in the sciences and English, reflecting the STEM-heavy subject combinations on offer — see what A-levels you can take.
- Almost every school layers an admissions test and/or interview on top of GCSE grades — grades alone are rarely the whole story. See admissions tests and interviews.
What varies by school
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Exact GCSE grade thresholds | Some schools publish a minimum grade profile; others assess more holistically. This is the single highest-value, highest-risk fact on this whole site to get wrong, so we source it per school rather than generalising. |
| Whether Further Maths GCSE-level study is expected | See our dedicated guide — do you need Further Maths GCSE? |
| Third and fourth subject requirements | Some schools require a specific further STEM subject (Exeter, for instance, requires at least one of Physics or Computer Science); others are more flexible. |
| Catchment and residency | Several schools define a specific catchment area; travel distance can be a practical filter even where it isn't a formal one. |
For the real numbers, go to the admissions hub and open the specific school. Anything we haven't been able to independently confirm is marked clearly rather than guessed — see our methodology.